Why was open trade a strength in the articles of confederation

The Articles of Confederation gave the federal government the power to declare war and to manage its own department of international relations. However, the Articles of Confederation did not give the US government the power to collect taxes nationwide, regulate interstate or international trade, or direct the government of these states. According to the Articles of Confederation, each state would be responsible for managing its own government and each state would also be the only one with the power to create its own taxes and laws.